Basic Grammar Tips (4.5)

Lately, I've been noticing that stories being posted are not following VERY BASIC grammar.
It makes me almost don't want to read it anymore. I know the internet, you don't need
grammar, but when you are writing a novel you NEED grammar. Yet, some of you will argue
with me, since you don't have to use as tight of grammar as you do when you write an
English paper. But trust me, you need to use all of these in your story.

1. Put a space after a comma, and put at LEAST one space after a period. This makes it
easier to read.
Wrong way: I hung out with my friends,and we got some really good ice
cream.After we got ice cream we walked around town.The town is really old,but it is very
pretty.
Right way: I hung out with my friends, and we got some really good ice cream.
After we got ice cream we walked around town. The town is really old, but it is very
pretty.

2. Do not have extremely long paragraphs. When you have a really long paragraph it makes
your story seem boring and very long. Instead start a new paragraph when you start to talk
about a new topic. However, some author's like to have a one sentence paragraph. This is
totally fine, too. As long as you are emphasizing that one sentence. However, don't do it
a lot, because that will make your story really long.
I will not put an example of this, since it's mostly the author's judgement.
However, I would be happy to help you if you are having trouble with it.

3. There, their, and they're. When to use them? I even sometimes use the own
there/their/they're. It gets kind of confusing at times. But mostly you just need to know
what the words actually mean.
There: Use when you are saying something like over there.
Their: Use when talking about multiple people are owning the same thing.
They're: Means THEY ARE.
Wrong Way: I noticed that I was in there room. I quickly walked out of
there room.
Right Way: I noticed that I was in THEIR room. I quickly walked out of
THEIR room.
Wrong Way: "Hey look over they're! An old man is wearing plaid!"
Right Way: "Hey, look over THERE! An old man is wearing plaid!"
Wrong Way: There are so mean. I sometimes just wanted to punch them.
There faces would be so funny.
Right Way: THEY'RE so mean. I sometimes just wanted to punch them.
THEIR faces would be so funny.

4. Your and You're. These two pairs are not that complicated. Really. People mix them up
all the time and it really bothers me. Your and you're are not as hard as above. Let me
explain what each of them mean.
Your: Possessive form of you.
You're: You ARE. Its a contraction.
Wrong Way: Your beautiful.
Right Way: You're beautiful.
Wrong Way: You're cell phone is on the table.
Right Way: Your cell phone is on the table.
Remember that you can always change You're to YOU ARE. If you want to use the contraction
form just quickly in your mind change it. If it does not make sense then use YOUR.

5. Dialogue. This may seem pretty easy, but you would not believe how many people mess
this up. There are few basic rules that you have to follow. The rules are there for the
reader, to be able to make out who is talking and such.
Rule #1: Use quotation marks (" ") when someone is speaking. Example: "Wow, I never
knew sunsets could be so beautiful."
Rule #2: Before the end quotation mark, needs to be a punctuation. The punctuation
can be a comma, a period, an exclamation point, or a question mark. If you use a comma,
there are a few more rules you have to follow. However, if you use a period, an
exclamation point, or a question mark that is all you have to do. However, most author's,
when they use an exclamation point or a question mark they follow the same rules for a
comma.

I will be adding more, when I have time. I will also add some of the grammar that you can
ignore when you are writing a novel. I hope this helped, and if you have any questions
post a comment below. (: